Ask the Author: Mark R. Brandon
Answered Questions (7)
Mark R. Brandon
Easy one. I'd go to Iain M Banks' The Culture (and never leave...)
Mark R. Brandon
I think I deal with this by going and doing something else instead. Read, go to the gym, go for a drive, watch a movie or just sit and think. Try not to stress about it and trust that your brain will come up with the answer to your problems.
If you need a prompt there are some great tools, including decks of inspiration cards and websites featuring story prompts, which work really well. If you're a science fiction writer, try writing a romance short story. If you've only ever written hardboiled detective stories, try writing some fantasy.
You can discover amazing things about yourself, and when you get back to your main work, chances are the writer's block will be gone.
If you need a prompt there are some great tools, including decks of inspiration cards and websites featuring story prompts, which work really well. If you're a science fiction writer, try writing a romance short story. If you've only ever written hardboiled detective stories, try writing some fantasy.
You can discover amazing things about yourself, and when you get back to your main work, chances are the writer's block will be gone.
Mark R. Brandon
Sounds incredibly corny but it's the writing itself. I love to craft words and create entire works of fiction.
I think the most difficult thing is actually giving yourself permission to do it, in the face of a barrage of challenges, ranging from "writers don't make any money" to "there's so much competition" to "you're not good enough" (this latter one mostly in your own head).
I think the most difficult thing is actually giving yourself permission to do it, in the face of a barrage of challenges, ranging from "writers don't make any money" to "there's so much competition" to "you're not good enough" (this latter one mostly in your own head).
Mark R. Brandon
I would say don't do what I did: wait years and years thinking I wasn't good enough or that I had nothing to say.
Do it now. Write, write, write, every day if you can. Listen to published authors and take their advice. Watch YouTube videos, join Facebook groups for writers, do anything you can to absorb and learn. And then share your work with the world.
Do it now. Write, write, write, every day if you can. Listen to published authors and take their advice. Watch YouTube videos, join Facebook groups for writers, do anything you can to absorb and learn. And then share your work with the world.
Mark R. Brandon
I have a short novella - 'Inkerman' - in production, for release in April 2021 all being well. 'Inkerman' is referenced in one of the stories in 'The Colossus of the Thames & Other Tales', and takes place in my version of the Crimean War.
I am currently working on rewriting my science fiction novel (more on that soon) and am part way through a steampunk novel, again set in my steampunk universe, which grew out of two short stories I wrote for the collection (but which don't feature in it!).
I am currently working on rewriting my science fiction novel (more on that soon) and am part way through a steampunk novel, again set in my steampunk universe, which grew out of two short stories I wrote for the collection (but which don't feature in it!).
Mark R. Brandon
All kinds of things inspire me including great art that I see (my cover artist instagram.com/nutkin has produced some very inspirational work!), movies, what other authors are doing (or not doing, more often than not) and places I visit.
Mark R. Brandon
I started writing the stories which make up 'The Colossus of the Thames & Other Tales' as an exercise, after I'd finished the first draft of my science fiction novel and sent it out to early readers.
I'd always loved the steampunk genre and fancied having a go at it, but hadn't written any short stories for thirty years. I loved it, and soon found I had twelve tales ready to go. I figured I'd put them out to get familiar with the publishing process, ahead of rewriting the novel.
I'd always loved the steampunk genre and fancied having a go at it, but hadn't written any short stories for thirty years. I loved it, and soon found I had twelve tales ready to go. I figured I'd put them out to get familiar with the publishing process, ahead of rewriting the novel.
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